Violence against Aboriginal, First Nations, Native American, Indigenous women. This forum looks at the issues, news updates, initiatives. This forum is dedicated to the families and friends of the hundreds of women who are missing or have been identified as murder victims throughout Turtle Island. We acknowledge the Creator's blessings on their souls and spirits in their new journey.

The Government of Canada today announced the launch of a national inquiry to address the high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

The Government will immediately begin engaging with survivors, family members and loved ones of victims, as well as National Aboriginal, provincial, and territorial representatives to seek their views on the design and scope of the inquiry. These meetings will be led by the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women.

In the New Year, meetings will continue across Canada that involve family members and a range of provincial, territorial, justice and front-line workers, as well as Indigenous women’s organizations. The Government of Canada believes that an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls can only be designed after hearing from those directly affected.

A discussion guide has been developed and will soon be available on-line to help focus meetings on this inquiry design process. It highlights important elements and key questions about the inquiry’s potential design. This includes questions about who should conduct the inquiry, the length of the inquiry, who should be heard, and what issues should be considered. Canadians and stakeholders are also encouraged to submit their own answers to these questions in a soon to be launched on-line survey.

At the end of this engagement process, the Government will report back on what has been heard from the participants. The views and ideas expressed by all participants will allow the Government to develop the inquiry, including the mandate, the terms of reference, the format of the Inquiry, and the timeline.

The Government of Canada is strongly committed to an inclusive and respectful engagement process. Balancing a diversity of viewpoints to design the inquiry will respond to the needs and expectations of the survivors, family members, and loved ones of victims.

Quick factsIndigenous women and girls in Canada experience higher rates of violence than non-Indigenous women in Canada.Although Indigenous women make up 4 per cent of Canada's female population, 16 per cent of all women murdered in Canada between 1980 and 2012 were Indigenous women. Indigenous women are 3 times more likely to report experiencing violence.Indigenous families, communities and organizations, as well as non-governmental and international organizations have urged the Government of Canada to take action and lead a national Inquiry.The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action include the call for a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.Quotes“Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls represent a heartbreaking national tragedy that must be addressed immediately. Inaction ends today. This is why we need to hear from all Canadians – especially survivors, families and loved ones, Indigenous organizations, and provinces and territories – to help us identify the best process for this inquiry.”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett,Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs “The unanswered calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada end today. The launch of this inquiry is an important step towards a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship and sense of trust between the Government of Canada and Indigenous peoples in Canada.”

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould,Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada“We recognize that a number of factors, like racism, marginalization, sexism, and poverty have contributed to the ongoing tragedy of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. This inquiry is necessary to address and prevent future violence against Indigenous women and girls. These women are not statistics – they are daughters, sisters, and mothers – and they have the right to live safely and free of violence.”

Assembly of First Nations Welcomes Launch of National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

(Ottawa, ON) – Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde, together with AFN BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson, welcome today’s announcement by the Government of Canada to launch a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

“This has been a long time coming, and we have always said the families and individuals impacted by violence against women be central to immediate action and a national inquiry,” said AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde. “After years of denial and deflection, it is my hope we can make real strides in achieving justice for families and achieving safety and security for all our people. This approach is consistent with our calls for a new relationship and collaborative approach to addressing priorities. By working together and with the full participation of First Nations we can close the gap in the quality of life between First Nations people and Canadians. I look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada to ensure all priorities are met with the same urgency and collaborative approach.”

The federal ministers of Justice, Indigenous Affairs and Status of Women made the announcement in the foyer of the House of Commons early this afternoon. Ministers Jody Wilson-Raybould, Dr. Carolyn Bennett and Patty Hajdu today announced the first phase of a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women, which includes meeting with families, national Aboriginal organizations (including AFN), provinces and territories and interested parties and experts.

“We have made it clear that families, Indigenous organizations, women’s organizations and civil society organizations must inform the work of a national inquiry, and this includes being involved in pre-consultations and setting the terms of reference,” said AFN BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson who leads national efforts in this area for the AFN. “We look forward to full participation to ensure the pre-consultation process and the scope of the inquiry will draw the required and necessary results. This cannot and will not be another report to sit on a shelf. This inquiry must lead to real action and results that achieve safety and security for Indigenous women and our families.”

The announcement took place on the first day of a three-day AFN Special Chiefs Assembly taking place at the Hilton Lac Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec this week. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Chiefs-in-Assembly and more than 1000 total delegates.

A dialogue and decision-making session on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls will take place Wednesday afternoon and will focus on the national public inquiry and processes to move to a coordinated national action plan. It will also include regional and community-based efforts to address and end violence and seek input for planning the second National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. A special screening of “1200+ Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women”, a film produced by Leonard Yakir and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson will take place Wednesday evening.

CHIEFS OF ONTARIO WELCOME HISTORIC FEDERAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMENGatineau, QC (Dec 8, 2015) --- “Today’s official announcement of a federal inquiry into the disturbing, decades-long national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls is welcome and long overdue. We commend the Liberal government, Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Bennett for holding true to their promise to address this Canada-wide issue. The announcement comes after months of organizing and pressure from First Nations communities and leadership and is a collective success,” said Deputy Grand Chief Denise Stonefish of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians.

“Chiefs of Ontario played a key role in mounting the pressure on the previous Conservative government and in raising awareness of the issue within the general public. In February 2015, we held a gathering of the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls to ensure that their voices, crucial to the process, are heard.”

“In September of this year, the Who Is She campaign was launched. This website-based fundraising and awareness raising campaign is aimed at Canadians nation-wide. Furthermore, our elected leadership have made addressing this issue their top priority.”

Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day said, “The way forward is through the involvement of First Nations peoples of Canada in the inquiry. The most effective way of addressing this systemic issue is to engage in a community-driven process to examine the collective safety of Indigenous peoples.

For this reason, we will continue fundraising for our own independent First Nations-led inquiry process that will focus on Ontario families and communities. It will allow us to honour the lives of the women and girls that are no longer with us, to understand their roles within our communities, and to move towards a solution with understanding and respect. Our own process will feed into the federal inquiry which will undoubtedly take months to be established.

I am optimistic that the federal inquiry will help Canada move forward with respect for First Nations peoples. Every Indigenous woman and girl should feel safe -- every moment of every day, in every place in our country. This is the right step in the path to reconciliation.”

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Trudeau Government Acts on National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Posted on December 8, 2015The announcement of the national inquiry was announced in Ottawa today by the three Ministers who will immediately begin engaging with survivors, family members and loved ones of victims, as well as National Aboriginal, provincial, and territorial representatives to seek their views on the design and scope of the inquiry. The Ministers are the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women.

MNC President Chartier commended the Ministers for their prompt action:

“ I appreciate the fact that they have launched the inquiry now and are committed to hearing from those directly affected as well as the National and provincial Aboriginal representatives and Indigenous women’s organizations in the design of the inquiry,” said President Chartier.

At the end of this engagement process, the Government will report back on what has been heard from the participants. The views and ideas expressed by all participants will allow the Government to develop the inquiry, including the mandate, the terms of reference, the format of the Inquiry, and the timeline.

“The MNC and its Governing Members and Women of the Métis Nation can be counted on to contribute to this inquiry design process, ” said President Chartier. “It is important that we get this right.”

Statement by Ministers Bennett, Wilson-Raybould and Hajdu following the first meeting on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (December 11, 2015) – The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women issued the following statement today:

“Today we were humbled and grateful to meet personally with survivors, families and loved ones of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

We listened to their stories and were deeply moved by their personal accounts of loss, violence and disappearance. These tragedies have taken a lasting toll on these individuals, their families and their communities. They are determined to seek justice and healing, and to make sure this doesn't happen to other families.

Their resilience and perseverance inspires us to do more to prevent violence, to raise awareness and to move forward together on the path to reconciliation. It is in this spirit of reconciliation that we have launched the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

In the coming months, we will continue to meet, listen to and work together with survivors, families, loved ones, as well as with Indigenous organizations and communities, provinces and territories, front-line workers and experts to design an inquiry that will result in concrete action to end this national tragedy.

We are determined to do this right for the survivors, their families and loved ones and to honour the spirits and memories of those we have lost and protect future generations.”

Statement By Ministers Bennett, Wilson-Raybould and Hajdu Following the Final Pre-Inquiry Design Meeting on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

Ottawa, Ontario (February 15, 2016) - The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women, issued the following statement today:

“Over the past three months, as part of the pre-inquiry design process, we have been privileged to travel across the country to meet with and listen to survivors, families and loved ones. We have also heard from representatives of front-line services and Indigenous organizations.

We have been profoundly touched by the stories we have heard from family members, and loved ones who have been directly affected by these tragic deaths and disappearances. We have also been moved by the stories of those who have experienced and survived extreme violence. It is clear to us that these tragedies take an immeasurable toll on these individuals, their families and their communities. Many are trying to honour the spirit of their loved ones by seeking changes to end this violence.

We have heard a wide range of voices and views on who should conduct the inquiry, the length of the inquiry, who should participate and the scope of the work and how best to reflect Indigenous culture and ceremony. As well we heard about other needs beyond the Inquiry, including healing. The views and ideas expressed by all participants are helping us design an inquiry that both examines the causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls and leads to recommendations for concrete actions to prevent future violence.

The level of engagement across Canada has been very encouraging. Our heartfelt gratitude to nearly 2000 individuals who participated in the 18 pre-inquiry design meetings that were held from coast to coast to coast. Thousands of people are still engaging on social media or are visiting the inquiry website to provide their input via an online survey. The level of engagement clearly demonstrates that Canadians are answering the call for action to address violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Although the meetings have ended, we encourage Canadians to continue to provide their input to help us identify the best process for this inquiry. The online survey will be available until February 22, 2016. Submissions by phone, email or regular mail will be accepted until February 28, 2016.

Our government is committed to real and substantive reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in this country, and the inquiry is an important step on this path to end the unacceptable rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

In the coming months, we will be announcing details of the inquiry, and on how the inquiry will contribute to the Government’s commitment to reconciliation and a renewed, nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada. We are determined to do this right for the survivors, families and loved ones, to honour the spirits and memories of those we have lost, and to protect future generations.

Real change will require commitment and participation from all levels of government, National Aboriginal and other organizations, front-line service providers, communities and individuals working to a better future for Indigenous peoples in our country.”

Published on Jan 21, 2016A video completed as part of a group university project for a class on the Sociology of Crime outlining why missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada is a sociological phenomenon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N5vfJj6dws

Symposium Hosted by NWAC and FAFIA Releases 22 Recommendations for National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIWG)(February 17, 2016) (Ottawa, ON, Canada) ― The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA), and the Canadian Journal of Women and the Law (CJWL) hosted an historic Symposium to discuss the design of the national inquiry into murders and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls on January 30 and 31, 2016 in Ottawa.

This two-day Symposium (titled Murders and Disappearances of Indigenous Women and Girls: Planning for Change – Towards a National Inquiry and an Effective National Action Plan) brought together international human rights experts from the United Nations and the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights, the White House Advisor on violence against women, Indigenous women leaders, family members, and grassroots feminist activists from across Canada.

From the Symposium’s deliberations emerged 22 recommendations regarding the design of the long-awaited national inquiry – each of which is imperative in order to ensure a fulsome, pragmatic, objective, and ultimately, successful outcome for this national inquiry.

The 22 inquiry recommendations set out the need for:

a clear focus on gendered and racialized violence against Indigenous women and girls;the critical importance of addressing the harms to family members caused by the violence and of supporting family members through redress, healing, ceremony, memorialization, and compensation;clarifying at the outset that the inquiry is national in scope and will include scrutiny of conduct and policies in federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions;including examination of 1) failures in policing and the justice system and 2) the underlying social and economic inequality of Indigenous women and girls that permits and perpetuates the violence.Establishing a human rights framework for the inquiry, that will ensure that recommendations already made by the United Nations and the Inter‑American Commission are implemented, and that proposed solutions are measured against human rights standards.Dawn Lavell-Harvard, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada said: “Gendered, sexualized and racialized violence against Indigenous women and girls violates our commitments to equality and causes lasting inter-generational harm to families, communities. These 22 recommendations establish the measures necessary to address this crisis effectively and to begin to reverse the cycle of violence.”

“The Western patriarchal paradigm paints Indigenous women as vulnerable; unworthy of value or respect. We know better. We know that we as lifegivers are strong, resilient, and capable of great things. This document is proof of that. It’s time to move forward – out of the darkness and into the light. The road ahead will be grueling, but it is nothing we can’t handle if we remain focused and committed to our overarching purpose: bringing justice to our women and girls.”―Dawn Lavell-Harvard, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada

“It is essential that the national inquiry have a human rights framework. Canada needs to implement, and then build on, the recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights. We need to ensure that the national plan that emerges from the inquiry will move us towards fulfilling the rights of Indigenous women and girls and meet the obligations of Canadian governments.”―Shelagh Day, Chair, Human Rights Committee, Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA)

“The Symposium identified the crux of this issue – that equality will never be achieved until gendered, racialized and sexualized violence against Indigenous women and girls as perpetrated by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous men, and by representatives of the state, is stopped. That requires action by all levels of government in Canada.”―Angela Cameron, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law at University of Ottawa and board member for the Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA)

Full summary of what we heard: Final report of the pre-inquiry engagement process

1. About this reportThis report summarizes the results of public input into the design of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It highlights key issues and recommendations identified as priorities at face-to-face engagement meetings, in online surveys and through phone, email and mail submissions. As such, it reflects a diversity of viewpoints heard during the pre-inquiry consultations. This report is comprised of five main sections. These sections describe the background for the inquiry and the pre-inquiry, as well as the results of the public consultation and next steps:

Background: provides the background for why the Government of Canada launched a national inquiryPre-inquiry design process: describes how the pre-inquiry design process came about, the channels through which public input was sought and the means by which the public's ideas and perspectives were collectedSummary of recommendations: outlines the views and recommendations that will guide the design and implementation of the national inquiryConclusion: summarizes the hopes expressed for the inquiryAppendix: lists the engagement meetings2. BackgroundFor more than a decade, demand for government action to stop violence against Indigenous women in Canada has grown. A broad cross-section of people and groups—from affected families, survivors and community groups to national organizations and international human rights bodies—have called for a review into the high rates of deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls.

While an Amnesty International report released in 2004 first brought public attention to the issue, the facts come from the government's own statistics. In a 2009 government survey on victimization of women in the provinces, it was revealed that Indigenous women were three times more likely than non-Indigenous women to report being the victim of a violent crime. This was true whether the perpetrator was a stranger or a spouse.

What is more, Indigenous women in Canada not only face higher incidences of violence than other women, they experience more severe forms of violence. A 2011 Statistics Canada report points out that 58 percent of the Indigenous women who suffered violence at the hands of their spouse sustained an injury. Almost half reported that they had been sexually assaulted, beaten, choked, or threatened with a gun or knife.

To raise awareness about "the alarming high rates of violence against Aboriginal women and girls", the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) documented more than 582 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, most within the last decade. They suggested that the actual numbers may be much higher because of gaps in police and government reporting.

In an effort to build on the work of the NWAC, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) released a report in May 2014 on incidents of missing and murdered Indigenous women across all police jurisdictions in Canada. By examining the data from more than 300 police forces, they determined that there were 164 missing and 1,017 murdered Indigenous women and girls. A 2015 update to the RCMP report indicated an additional 32 Indigenous female homicide cases and 11 additional Indigenous women identified as missing in the RCMP's jurisdiction since the 2014 report was conducted.

The RCMP also confirmed what affected families and advocates had long been saying, that Indigenous women are "over-represented" among Canada's missing and murdered women. Indigenous women account for 16 percent of all women murdered in Canada between 1980 and 2012, but comprise only four percent of Canada's female population.

As the RCMP found, the homicide rate for Indigenous women has remained unchanged over the past three decades while it has been declining for non-Indigenous women in Canada. This reinforces the need to develop a national response to the threats to safety faced by Indigenous women and girls.

Launch of a national inquiry

On December 8, 2015, the Government of Canada launched a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The announcement came in response to the calls of Indigenous families, communities and organizations for such an inquiry. Included among those organizations was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which formally called on the government to launch a public inquiry into "the disproportionate victimization of Aboriginal women and girls."

The inquiry will seek recommendations on concrete actions that governments, police, and others can take to solve these deaths and prevent future ones. The inquiry offers an important step towards reconciliation and building a nation-to-nation relationship based on a renewed sense of trust between the Government of Canada and Indigenous peoples in Canada.

3. Pre-inquiry design processThe Government of Canada committed to a national inquiry that balances diverse viewpoints and reflects the needs and expectations of the survivors, families and loved ones. To meet this commitment, the government sought the views and perspectives of many individuals and organizations to help design the inquiry.

The primary focus of the face to face meetings was hearing from the survivors, families and loved ones of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. In addition, the federal ministers met with Indigenous leaders, organizations and communities, provincial and territorial leaders, front-line organizations, scholars and legal experts.

The pre-inquiry design process was led by three federal ministers:

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs CanadaThe Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of CanadaThe Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of WomenThe process was supported by a secretariat that managed the operations and logistics of the pre-inquiry design phase. This included organizing the engagement meetings, collecting the submissions (whether given in person or sent by phone, mail or online), and preparing summaries of what was heard.

Efforts to engage

The Government of Canada's efforts to engage included:

17 face-to-face meetings with one or more of the ministers and more than 2,000 survivors, family members and loved ones (including their personal supports) as well as front-line service providersmeetings with national Aboriginal organizations, provincial and territorial leaders (or their representatives), Indigenous leaders, scholars and legal expertsThe government also encouraged the Canadian public to share their views and recommendations:

by phone, mail or emailthrough an online survey open to the public from January 5, 2016 to February 22, 2016on Twitter using the hashtag #MMIWEngagement meetings

The engagement meetings began in Ottawa, Ontario, on December 11, 2015, and ended in Ottawa on February 15, 2016 with meetings held from coast to coast to coast. See the appendix for a complete list of locations and dates.

The meetings provided the government the opportunity to hear first-hand from survivors, families and loved ones of those murdered or missing women and girls. All 17 meetings were attended by one or more of the three lead ministers, as well as senior-level government officials. In addition, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness attended one or two meetings. Provincial and Territorial ministers attended some meetings as well.

To help make participants feel safe, supported and respected, a range of cultural, spiritual and religious ceremonies were an important part of each meeting. Elders were on hand to provide ceremony and counsel. To ensure the well-being of participants, health support workers from Health Canada were available at all times to provide additional cultural and emotional support.

Effort was made to give survivors, families and loved ones as much advance notice as possible to enable their participation in meetings in their regions. Invitations were circulated through local and national Indigenous organizations and their networks, as well as through the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) regional offices. Costs for travel, accommodation and meals for family members and support people were provided by the Government of Canada.

Discussion questions

The engagement meetings and online survey were structured around nine questions. The questions were focused on receiving input into the design of the inquiry, including its objectives, scope and format. In developing the questions, the government took into account the large volume of work already done by national Indigenous organizations and provincial and territorial governments, as well as public statements by individual family members:

Who should lead the inquiry?Who do you think should provide views or have an opportunity to participate in the inquiry?What are the key issues that need to be addressed by the inquiry?How can the process be set up so it results in providing concrete and practical recommendations for specific actions?How can cultural practices and ceremonies be incorporated into the design of the inquiry?How is it best to involve the families, loved ones and survivors in the inquiry?How should Indigenous groups (national Aboriginal organizations, front-line workers, band councils, etc.) be included in the inquiry?What supports (health supports, counselling, translation, etc.) may be needed during the inquiry for individuals who are participating?Is there anything else you would like to add to help design the inquiry?4. Summary of recommendationsThe input received through the pre-inquiry meetings and submissions was wide ranging with several key themes emerging. The most commonly expressed recommendations for the inquiry have been organized into the following four categories:

Leadership, structure and scope focuses on who should lead the inquiry, the process for appointments, how the inquiry should be structured and the scope of its work.Participation focuses on who should participate in the inquiry, how best to support their participation and what role should be played by National Aboriginal Organizations, front-line workers, and Indigenous community leaders and organizations.Key issues and actions focuses on some of the most important issues the inquiry should address and provides a few examples from a broad range of actions that could be taken immediately or while the inquiry conducts its work. Cultural practices and supports focuses on the cultural practices, ceremonies and health supports that should be incorporated into the design of the inquiry.Leadership, structure and scope of the inquiry

There was significant support for an independent and transparent inquiry led by Indigenous women which also includes the participation of men and is representative of Indigenous communities and regions. There was strong support for the inquiry to establish a timeline that is sensitive to the needs of the survivors, families and loved ones while avoiding a drawn-out and overly legalistic process. Considerable support was also expressed for an inquiry that is national in scope and has the full cooperation and participation of all levels of government.

Commissioners

The inquiry should be led by an Indigenous woman supported by a panel of commissioners, the majority of whom should be Indigenous women.The commissioners should represent a diversity of views, cultures and interdisciplinary professions as well as geographic regions. They should also reflect the diversity of Canada's First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, and include representation from non-governmental Indigenous organizations, as well as family members.The commissioners should be accomplished and respected leaders with a proven record of impartiality. Their life experience should ensure they have empathy and compassion towards the families, survivors, and loved ones. They should also be healthy in spirit, body and mind and be informed about the trauma associated with the issues they would encounter.The qualifications of the commissioners should include experience and expertise in legal principles (including human rights law), as well as policing and the justice system.The commissioners should also have knowledge of research and investigation methods along with in-depth knowledge of the issues facing Indigenous peoples in Canada.An appointment process for commissioners should be transparent and national in scope to ensure the inquiry has the credibility to carry out its mandate. Structure and scope of the inquiry

Commissioners should be supported throughout the process by an advisory circle or multiple circles of Indigenous peoples representing groups such as youth, elders, community members, survivors, and family members, as well as representatives of Indigenous organizations. An expert panel (or panels) should also be available to research, advise, and provide support on specific issues.The commissioners should be supported by staff with a variety of expertise, and include an engagement team to provide outreach with communities in each province and territory. This team, along with the commissioners, should have the capacity to review and build upon existing research.The commissioners should have the authority to ask for or conduct reviews and investigations of individual cases.The inquiry should be subject to impartial oversight that would monitor its progress and ensure its accountability, as well as ensure adequate funding and monitoring for the implementation of its recommendations.In order to assess lessons learned, consideration should be given to past inquiries and commissions on Indigenous issues such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Highway of Tears Symposium, the Missing Women Commission of inquiry (Oppal inquiry) and the Manitoba Justice inquiry.The inquiry should be granted the authority to pursue issues and make recommendations within federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions.The scope of the inquiry should be broad enough to result in recommendations for concrete actions for policy, program and legislative changes that address the underlying causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls.Participation

The majority of respondents focused on the need to be inclusive, underscoring the importance and acceptance of a diversity of perspectives.

Who should participate

The participation of female survivors of violence, and the families and loved ones of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, should be a priority throughout the inquiry. There should be no funding barriers and every effort should be made to enable full participation.Indigenous men and boys should be encouraged to participate throughout the inquiry.Trans and two-spirit people and communities should feel welcome to participate.Front-line service providers, social workers and counsellors, as well as representatives of organizations who directly support and engage with Indigenous families and communities, should be given the chance to participate.Indigenous community members including elders and Indigenous leaders should be included.Representatives of the government, justice systems, and law enforcement agencies should also participate in the proceedings.Support for participants

A variety of methods should be employed to clearly and openly communicate about the inquiry's short- and long-term goals, schedule and dates of proceedings, and to reach out to individuals who may wish to participate.Participants should be given adequate time along with the necessary resources to ensure their safe and timely participation.All potential barriers to participation should be addressed (language, literacy, mental and physical health issues, age, costs, etc.).Special effort should be made to reach out and support the poorest and most marginalized groups (e.g., the incarcerated, the homeless, sex workers, addicts and women fleeing domestic violence).Legal representation should be provided if necessary.Commissioners or their representatives should travel throughout the country, including to remote Northern areas, to conduct interviews and to engage with the families, survivors and loved ones in their communities.Protective measures should be put in place for individuals who feel at risk. These would include alternative methods for participation such as private interviews, written, taped and anonymous submissions as well as telephone hotlines, community circles and focus groups.Media involvement should be monitored and potentially limited to broadcasting the inquiry proceedings.Role of national Aboriginal organizations and Indigenous community leaders and organizations

The priority for these groups should be focused on supporting the participation of families, survivors and loved ones in the inquiry.These groups should also consider:Leading a national media campaign to support the inquiry and its proceedings.Training media on appropriate coverage of the inquiry and of a truthful portrayal of Indigenous people to prevent further reporting of stereotypes and myths.Assisting with communications and circulating information about the inquiry through existing networks.Key issues and actions

Although the key issues and actions are organized into categories, it is clear that most, if not all, are interconnected. It is therefore not surprising that significant support was expressed for the inquiry to take a holistic approach to its analysis of the issues — one that looks at the economic, cultural, political and social causes of violence. This human rights-based approach would include an assessment of the underlying causes of violence, inequality and discrimination to determine actions that would result in systemic change.

Child and family services

The inquiry should:Review child welfare policies and the care of Indigenous children in child protective services to determine any potentially negative impact on Indigenous children, families and communities.Address the separation of Indigenous children from their families and the disproportionally high rates of Indigenous children in child welfare services.Examine the failure of the child welfare system to respond to and deal with individual cases.Assess the social programs and services, health care and counselling supports being provided to Indigenous people to assist with issues of substance abuse and addictions, mental health, poverty, inadequate housing, and unemployment.Examine the relationship between a lack of adequate social programs and services and family violence.Address the disparity in funding for services on reserves and off reserves, and increase funding for family counselling in remote locations.Identify and address the specific needs of children of victims and ensure they have protection and mental, social and health supports.Law enforcement

The inquiry should:Review the structures and systems in place to ensure police and law enforcement agencies are accountable for how they investigate cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.Initiate independent reviews of investigations or official conclusions regarding deaths or disappearances that family members believe should be re-examined.Address the delays in responding to reports of missing Indigenous women and girls.Address institutional racism within law enforcement agencies and the links to the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the correctional system.Address the conduct of police officers towards Indigenous women, girls and their families.Address the sexual exploitation and trafficking of Indigenous women and girls and their causes and consequences.Review and address the breakdown in communications between families and law enforcement investigative processes, especially between urban and rural or remote locations.Criminal justice system

The inquiry should:Address institutional racism within correctional services and the justice system, including any links to the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the correctional system.Examine the failure of the criminal justice system to respond to and deal with individual cases.Review legislation that may contribute to the violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls.Review the representation of Indigenous people (Inuit, First Nations and Métis) who hold positions of authority in the justice system, including judges and prosecutors.Explore the role and practice of Indigenous legal systems, knowledge and traditions to support women and their families and communities to address gender-based violence.Systemic issues and legacies

The inquiry should:Examine the role the social and economic marginalization of Indigenous women and girls has on making them vulnerable to violence, cycles of poverty, homelessness, addiction, reliance on prostitution, and disproportionately high rates of incarceration.Address the systemic predominance of Indigenous male political leadership at the expense of Indigenous women's autonomous leadership, including the lack of funding for women's organizations. Identify the causes and consequences of the historical sexual exploitation and trafficking of Indigenous women and girls, including sexual stereotyping.Assess the intergenerational effects of violence as a result of the Indian Residential Schools and the "60s-Scoop."Consider the historical links to organized crime including prostitution, gangs, human trafficking and drugs.Assess the legacy of colonialism and discriminatory and racist laws.Specific Research and Actions

Implement existing recommendations from previous inquiries and commissions, including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, as well as the studies and reports produced by Indigenous organizations regarding missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Support and adequately fund culturally sensitive social services for Indigenous women and girls and their families, including rape crisis centres, safe houses and shelters, and trauma and grief counselling.Provide services and education funds especially designed for the children of missing and murdered women. Educate the Canadian public, including both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, on the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada on issues such as racism and discrimination and dispelling myths and stereotypes.Include a public education mandate for the inquiry to educate the public, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, about what is being learned and revealed about violence against Indigenous women and the harm it causes.Provide a dedicated 24-hour free response line with trained staff or volunteers to answer questions and provide support to survivors, families and loved ones. Implement preventative measures and practical solutions to ensure the safety of Indigenous women and girls.Examine ways to incorporate Indigenous legal knowledge into the inquiry to address gendered violence.Cultural practices and supports

The need for professional mental health counselling and community-based, trauma-sensitive cultural and health supports for survivors, families, and loved ones throughout the inquiry and afterwards is seen as critical to an effective process and to mitigate potential re-victimization.

The inquiry should provide a wide variety of cultural, spiritual and religious supports that reflect the diversity of all participants and regions and include the oversight and support of elders (including prayers, smudging, drumming, singing, Qulliq lighting, sacred fires, round dances, potlatches, water ceremonies, medicine wheels, and pipe ceremonies).Elders should be regularly consulted on cultural and ceremonial practices that conform to the traditions and protocols of the region in which the inquiry's proceedings are held.Cultural ceremonies should be open to everyone and include representation from Indigenous women, youth, and communities. They should also include healing and celebration ceremonies.The inquiry's respect for the local and traditional practices should extend to allowing community members to prepare and to provide traditional food.Health supports that are culturally sensitive and appropriate must be available at all stages of participation including aftercare. Trained professionals and elders, along with existing support workers, should be available to participants.The support of family and community networks should be encouraged to promote individual and community healing.Special consideration should be given to identifying the needs of children of victims and ensuring that they have the necessary and appropriate health supports and protection.5. ConclusionThe pre-inquiry consultations have raised hopes for a national inquiry that will result in concrete actions to end violence against Indigenous women,girls, and trans and two-spirit people. Many participants expressed gratitude to the Government for taking their concerns seriously and listening carefully to their stories. The pre-inquiry engagement has helped to begin a process of reconciliation and is a first step towards healing and addressing a long-standing national tragedy.

After hearing from so many stakeholders, it has become clear that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and communities are looking for systemic change as well as justice for victims and families. Their diverse voices sound as one in calling for the inquiry to address the underlying causes of violence.

The many people and organizations that spoke up during these consultations also want to see reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. They largely agree that reconciliation rests on understanding the effects of racism and discrimination and respecting Indigenous culture and its contributions to Canada.

As the Government of Canada, we share the commitment to making sure the inquiry gets all of this right, for the spirits and the memory of those we have lost, and to help prevent more tragedies in the future. We are grateful to the survivors, families and loved ones who showed great courage and strength in sharing their experiences and views during this first phase of the inquiry. Their contributions—combined with those of the other parties who attended meetings or submitted their views to us—will ensure we design an inquiry that is meaningful and helps move us toward a new relationship built on respect and partnership.

With other stakeholders – provinces, territories, National Aboriginal Organizations, non-governmental and international organizations, Indigenous leaders, scholars and legal experts

National Aboriginal Organizations, provinces and territories(December 16, 2015, Ottawa, Ontario)This meeting provided the opportunity for the Ministers of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, of Department of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Status of Women, and the Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, to hear the views of National Aboriginal Organizations and provincial and territorial governments regarding the design of the inquiry. All participants expressed strong support for, and commitment to, the inquiry and offered their assistance to the process. The focus on families as well as healing, education and the need to bridge social and economic gaps were strong themes throughout the meeting

British Columbia Coalition on Missing and Murdered Women and Girls(January 12, 2016, Vancouver, British Columbia)The British Columbian Coalition on Missing and Murdered Women includes family members of missing and murdered women, front-line, Indigenous and human rights groups. The Coalition met with the Minister in January to provide input on the design of the inquiry. The Coalition emphasized the need for a rights based approach to the National Inquiry. The Coalition also expressed a recommendation that the issues and scope of the inquiry should be broad enough to examine the underlying causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Symposium on Planning for Change – Towards a National inquiry and an Effective National Action Plan(January 30-31, 2016, Ottawa, Ontario)This symposium, hosted by the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (and the Canadian Journal of Women and the Law) brought together international human rights experts, Indigenous women leaders, frontline organizations and family members to discuss the scope, mandate and design of the inquiry. Following the meeting, symposium participants released 22 recommendations regarding the design and implementation of the national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women. The Symposium emphasized and prioritized gender and racialized violence as a critical element for the inquiry to addresses. The Symposium also recommended that the inquiry focus on Indigenous women and girls.

Roundtable on Commissions of inquiry(February 6, 2016, Toronto, Ontario)Osgoode Law School hosted a roundtable on commissions of inquiry. More than 40 experts who had participated, in various ways, in over 20 previous commissions and inquiries attended. Family members and representatives of leading service and advocacy organizations in the Indigenous community and civil society and academic experts on inquiries, also participated in the roundtable.

The roundtable discussions focused on sharing lessons from past inquiries and commissions. A key issue discussed was how the inquiry should be structured to deliver concrete results. Other areas of discussion included, how to coordinate the federal and provincial law enforcement offices that will have to cooperate for the inquiry to be a success, how to deal with both systemic and individual issues, how and whether to incorporate perpetrators in the scope of the inquiry and how to advance healing and reconciliation.

British Columbia Coalition on Murdered and Missing Women and Girls(February 13, 2016, Vancouver, British Columbia)In response to the invitation to participate in the pre-inquiry process, the Coalition met with the Minister in February to set out their key recommendations for the inquiry, focusing on responses to the nine questions in the pre-inquiry discussion guide.

2nd Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls(February 26, 2016, Winnipeg, Manitoba)The National Roundtable in Winnipeg on February 2016 brought together families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, Indigenous representative organizations, all provinces and territories and the federal government. The roundtable is a vital forum for governments of all levels to collaborate on this issue. At the second meeting, all Canadian provinces and territories agreed to participate fully in the National Inquiry.

Roundtable on Indigenous Law and Legal Knowledge(March 12, 2016, Toronto, Ontario)This meeting brought together Indigenous law experts from across Canada to discuss ways to incorporate Indigenous legal systems into the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Experts discussed issues, principles and practices relating to Indigenous law systems with a view to ensuring that the inquiry not confine itself to a rigid and colonial notion of the appropriate legal orders to be used for addressing issues relating to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. The conference attendees discussed what measures would be effective to ensure that the inquiry integrate a plurality of Indigenous legal systems to address gendered violence.

Pauktuutit Statement on the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

July 22, 2016 (Ottawa, ON) Pauktuutit shares the many increasing public concerns that are currently being expressed about the upcoming National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Today, Pauktuutit President Rebecca Kudloo, has released this public statement.

Pauktuutit’s report on our inquiry pre-consultation meeting and our recommendations on the scope, mandate and process clearly state that ideally we would like two Inuit commissioners – one woman and one man. If there is to be only one Inuk commissioner it should be a woman. It was our expectation from the beginning that we would have an Inuk commissioner and that our recommendations to the federal government would be honoured.

I was personally given the names of the individuals who were to be appointed as commissioners for the national inquiry by the federal government in late June. Since that time the Pauktuutit Executive Committee and I have done everything we could to ensure that one of the five commissioners would be an Inuk woman. I am sorry to say that we have not been successful and as of today, it is my understanding that not one of the five commissioners will be an Inuk woman.

I have also been saddened by the fact that we have not been able to communicate any information or updates about the national inquiry to Inuit, and especially the family members who have put their trust in us. I apologize if you feel we have let you down.

We have worked diligently as diplomats and negotiators, as is our way as Inuit. We have been feeling increasing pressure from many Inuit to update them on the inquiry. We now feel we have no choice but to make a public statement about our concerns as a national indigenous women’s organization and on behalf of all Inuit women in Canada. This is not about individuals and this is not in any way personal. For this inquiry to be of maximum benefit for Inuit it must be led by indigenous women including us as Inuit women. To me, this is a fundamental matter of principle, equality and trust.

As Inuit women, most of us live in regions with the highest rates of violence in the country. I cannot understand how in 2016 we are still not being included in our own right as full participants in these historic opportunities. To us, this does not feel like it is 2016 for all women in Canada. When the new government was elected last fall, I was very hopeful for the first time in many years. I then became very frustrated as we have not yet established a new relationship with the federal government that is rooted in reconciliation and gender equality. Pauktuutit has been reaching out and we are still hopeful that we can find a way to work together and move forward.

Pauktuutit is here to work with the federal government and others. We remain committed to helping make this inquiry meaningful for Inuit women and girls as well as our families who have suffered such profound losses.

National Inuit Submission on the Pre-Inquiry Phase of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

The impact of violence against Inuit women and girls has left a devastating mark on Inuit communities throughout Canada.

To address the subject justly, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls must adequately reflect Inuit perspectives, values and culture, while addressing the needs and concerns of Inuit.

In order to determine how Inuit would like to see the Inquiry process unfold, ITK and Tungasuvvingat Inuit jointly engaged in consultations among Inuit in Canada, including the four regions that make up Inuit Nunangat and eight urban centres where there are large Inuit populations.

Statement on Terms of Reference for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in CanadaJuly 20, 2016—As organizations and human rights experts, we are deeply concerned by the draft Terms of Reference for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, which have been posted on media websites today.

The TOR provide the framework for the National Inquiry and establish the authority of its Commissioners. In our view, the draft TOR risks a weak National Inquiry that lacks clear authority to delve into some of the most crucial factors in this human rights crisis. Our organizations are particularly concerned that the draft TOR provides no explicit mandate to report on, or make recommendations regarding, policing and justice system failures and inadequacies.

Overall, the TOR describe a process of consultation with families and survivors, with an emphasis on healing and reconciliation. This is important. But the National Inquiry must also be able to take a hard look at the programs, practices and policies of governments, which have contributed to, maintained, or exacerbated the violence.We wish to see a strong and effective National Inquiry that can deal with the realities of violence against Indigenous women and girls and Canada’s failed responses to it. To that end, we provide the following analysis of the TOR.

There are positive elements in the TOR, including the following:

There will be five Commissioners. This provides opportunity for a good mix of representation, experience and expertise.There is a mandate to examine the systemic causes of violence, and to make recommendations that will address and remedy those systemic causes.There is a mandate to create regional and issue-specific advisory bodies that include family members, violence survivors and civil society advocates with relevant issue knowledge.The report of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the report of the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights are included in the list of key reports for the Commission of Inquiry to review and consider.The Commissioners are authorized to make funding available to enable people to participate in the National Inquiry (though it is unclear how extensive this will be) and to provide culturally appropriate counselling.The TOR authorize the Commissioners to hold informal hearings and to travel the country.There will be both a preliminary and final report.Unfortunately, these positive factors are not sufficient to ensure a robust and effective National Inquiry. The follow crucial gaps and omissions must be addressed before the National Inquiry is formally established.

Policing and Justice SystemThere is no explicit mandate to review policing policies and practices. Since the failure of the police and the justice system to adequately protect Indigenous women and girls and to respond quickly and diligently to the violence is a central concern, and since this failure has been identified as a violation of Canada’s obligations under international human rights law, it should be a central focus of the inquiry. The absence of this critical aspect of the National Inquiry in the TOR is shocking.The Commissioners are directed to report on “institutional practices in response to violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls in Canada”. But the TOR should explicitly state that the Commissioners are to inquire into and report on police and justice system practices related to the racialized and sexualized violence that Indigenous women and girls experience. The recommendation section should explicitly authorize the Commissioners to make recommendations that will correct inadequacies and improve policing practices, policies, and oversight. There is no mechanism for individual file review of cases where there are outstanding concerns over the adequacy and impartiality of police investigations. The Commissioners are authorized to refer families with concerns about ongoing or past investigations to “the appropriate provincial or territorial authority responsible for the provision of victim services”. This appears to be sending families back in a circle, to the same authorities with whom they were/are having problems to start with. This risks putting the Commissioners in an untenable position as they will appear to be part of the problem, not the solution.A number of recommendations during the pre‑inquiry consultations were made for parallel investigative, civilian‑led processes, at least initially under the oversight of the National Inquiry, which could provide a fresh review and advice to families.

The only references to law enforcement concern:the obligation of Commissioners not to jeopardize criminal investigations. Without more detail, this may encourage law enforcement authorities to withhold key information or data on open cases.the direction to pass evidence that may be of use in a criminal case or evidence of misconduct back to “appropriate authorities.” This seems to obviate any authority on the part of the National Inquiry to analyze or make recommendations regarding inadequate or overtly discriminatory practices by police or justice system officials.If evidence of misconduct will be remitted to appropriate law enforcement authorities, how will this lead to real change in policing policies and practices? Further, the “appropriate authorities” vary from province to province, placing families at risk of being referred to what may be an inadequate and confusing system. Again, the National Inquiry does not appear to have jurisdiction to thoroughly examine policing agencies and systems.

Powers to Subpoena and Compel Production of DocumentsWhile the inquiry will be conducted under the Inquiries Act, which in sections 4 and 5 authorizes Commissioners of Inquiry to summon witnesses and compel production of documents, these sections of the Inquiries Act are not specifically referred to in the TOR, even though other sections, with respect to paying remuneration and hiring staff, are. This inconsistency, and the absence of reference to the authority to compel production of documents, may raise a question, and cause disputes, about whether the Commissioners have the necessary authority to require witnesses to testify and to produce documents that the National Inquiry needs. There is also a question regarding the authority of the Commissioners to compel production of documents from provincial and territorial departments and agencies. The Commissioners should be authorized, if necessary, to make use of inquiry powers under provincial legislation to avoid possible jurisdictional disputes.

The power to compel production of documents from all levels of government is essential. But it is not set out clearly in the TOR.

Human Rights FrameworkThe inquiry does not have a human rights framework. The Commissioners are directed to review and consider the UN CEDAW Committee and Inter‑American Commission reports on murders and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls in Canada, which we understand as an acknowledgement that rights are at stake here. But the Commissioners are not directed to identify the relevant domestic and international civil, political, economic, social, and cultural human rights, including the specific rights of Indigenous peoples. Nor are the Commissioners directed to assess the systemic causes of the violence and institutional practices and policies in light of Canada’s international human rights obligations, or to make recommendations that will improve the implementation and fulfillment of the rights of Indigenous women and girls. When the murders and disappearances have been identified as a human rights crisis for Canada, this is a major weakness.

Provincial and Territorial Jurisdiction The preamble refers to the Government of Canada and the “governments of the provinces and territories” launching the inquiry. But there is no explicit authority for the National Inquiry to deal with matters or evidence that fall in provincial or territorial jurisdiction. Nor do the paragraphs that set out what the National Inquiry is to report on and what it is to make recommendations about refer to provincial and territorial jurisdiction. These sections should specify that the Commissioners are to inquire into and report on relevant policies and practices, whether they are federal, provincial or territorial, and state that the Commissioners are authorized to make recommendations pertaining to any jurisdiction.

There is nothing in the TOR about cross‑agency and cross‑jurisdictional data sharing, and in particular, there is no authority given to the Commissioners to foster, or compel, data‑sharing to ensure that over the course of the National Inquiry the knowledge of the nature and the extent of the violence is improved.​

Participant and Witness SupportsThere is no provision made for translation/interpretation to/from Indigenous languages.It is unclear whether individuals or groups testifying before the National Inquiry will need to be represented by legal counsel. Should legal counsel be required, it should be funded by the National Inquiry and this should be made explicit in the TOR. The National Inquiry must avoid a situation like the Oppal Inquiry, where public officials and law enforcement had access to legal counsel but individuals and civil society groups did not; this judicial inequality caused groups to withdraw from participation in the Oppal Inquiry.Commissioners can share data related to criminal offenses with law enforcement agencies. But no guarantees or protections are provided for people who fear contact with, or retaliation by, police or other officials.Consultation and RevisionAlong with Indigenous women, families and communities across Canada, we welcomed the announcement of the National Inquiry last December. We have great hopes and great expectations that the National Inquiry will help to address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls and identify practical solutions to prevent further violence and provide justice for Indigenous women and girls and their families.

As presently drafted, however, the TOR will not meet these expectations. Given that the National Inquiry process began with consultations and a commitment to “getting this right”, we are hopeful that the Government of Canada, and the governments of the provinces and territories, will consider our concerns and revise the TOR before the National Inquiry begins.

Government of Canada Names Commissioners for National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

August 3, 2016 – Ottawa, ON – Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Canada is committed to real reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is an important step on this path to end the unacceptable rates of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Today, Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, along with Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Patty Hajdu, Minister of Status of Women, announced the five commissioners who will lead the Inquiry as well as the Terms of Reference for the National Inquiry.

Canada is grateful to the survivors, families, loved ones and grassroots women's organizations, front-line, feminist Indigenous organizations, national Indigenous organizations, as well as well as provinces and territories, and experts who provided input during the pre-inquiry process. The input received through the 18 sessions and the online survey helped shape the Inquiry that the Commissioners will now be leading.The Commissioners have the background, characteristics and experience we heard was necessary in the pre-inquiry design phase to lead this Inquiry.

The National Inquiry will be funded by the Government of Canada, with the participation and full co-operation of all the provinces and territories. Together, the federal, provincial and territorial governments have ensured the Inquiry has the necessary mandate and tools to help bring this national tragedy to an end.

In response to the pre-inquiry recommendations, the Government also announced today $16.17 million over four years for the creation of Family Information Liaison Units in each province and territory and to increase Victims Services funding to provide culturally-appropriate victims services for families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and survivors of violence. The Family Information Liaison Units will provide centralized, dedicated resources for families of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls and gather the information families are seeking on their behalf. These services will be provided in a respectful and co-ordinated manner during the Inquiry.

Quotes"For over a decade, the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls have been demanding action. Today, after meaningful engagement with the families, experts and those with lived experience, ‎I am proud that the Prime Minister, with the support of all provinces and territories, has appointed five outstanding Commissioners ‎who will now be able to do the work needed for Canada to put in place the concrete actions necessary to put an end to this national tragedy."

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs"The launch of the Inquiry represents a concrete expression of the government's commitment to honouring the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. By examining the root causes that have contributed to this national tragedy, including past and present systemic and institutional barriers, the Commission of Inquiry will play a pivotal role in helping all of us to define where best to continue to act to protect the human rights of all Indigenous women and girls in Canada."

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C., M.P.Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada"This team will bring a depth and mix of personal, academic and professional experiences to the task of listening, documenting and seeking to bring to light the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada and to make recommendations for effective action."

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.Minister of Status of WomenQuick factsGovernment of Canada launched the Inquiry on December 8, 2015, which was followed by a three month pre-inquiry engagement process.During these three months, 18 face-to-face sessions were held from coast-to-coast-to-coast, with over 2,000 participants and over 4,100 online submissions.On February 26, 2016, at the National Roundtable on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to participation and full cooperation in a National Inquiry.The Government published the results of this engagement on May 31, 2016.The Government committed $53.86 million over 2 years (2016/17- 2017/18) to establish an Inquiry which will make recommendations on concrete actions to address and prevent violence against Indigenous women and girls, including systemic and societal discrimination.

The Honourable Judge Marion Buller was appointed the first female First Nations judge in British Columbia in 1994. Prior to being appointed to the Provincial Court bench, Judge Buller worked as a civil and criminal lawyer (1988-1994). Judge Buller served as both a director and president of Canada's Indigenous Bar Association and has been a member of the B.C. Police Commission and the Law Court Education Society. She was the Commission Counsel for the Caribou-Chilcotin Justice Inquiry and published reports and articles dealing with Aboriginal rights and legal services for First Nations in British Columbia. Judge Buller was instrumental in starting the First Nations Court of British Columbia in 2006.

Judge Buller received her bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Victoria, and went on to study law there as well. Judge Buller is currently resident in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, where she sits on the Provincial Court Bench, but maintains band membership with the Mistawasis First Nation in Saskatchewan.

Born to a French father and Innu mother, in the Innu community of Mani Utenam in Québec, Michèle Audette is a native long-time Innu speaker. She began her political career very early having been elected one of the youngest-ever Presidents of the Québec Native Women's Association (QNWA), a Native Women's Association of Canada member organization, where she has advocated actively to support women's issues. She was instrumental in helping Ecole Nationale D'Administration Publique create an innovative program in the field of Aboriginal public policy. Additionally, from 2004-2009, Ms. Audette served as Deputy Minister at the provincial Secretariat of the Status of Women in Québec. She was the recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Qajaq Robinson is a graduate of the Akitsiraq Law Program – a partnership between the University of Victoria and Nunavut Arctic College. Born in Iqaluit and raised in Igloolik, Ms. Robinson is a strong Northern advocate, who is fluent in Inuktitut and English . She articled at Maliiganik Tukisiiniakvik, clerked with judges of the Nunavut Court of Justice under the Chief Justice at the time, Beverley Browne, and then became a Crown prosecutor who worked the circuit court in Nunavut for four years.

Ms. Robinson is presently an Associate with Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Ottawa, Ontario, where she works on Team North, a multi-disciplinary team of 70 lawyers who do a variety of work for First Nation communities in the northern parts of central and western provinces and the territories. She has worked on a wide range of issues affecting Indigenous rights. Most recently, Ms. Robinson worked as legal counsel at the Specific Claims Tribunal, travelling to First Nations communities across Canada. In addition, Ms. Robinson is the Vice President of Tungasuvvingat Inuit, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing cultural and wellness programs to Inuit in Ottawa

Marilyn Poitras was appointed Assistant Professor in the College of Law, at University of Saskatchewan in 2009. She obtained her L.L.M from Harvard and her L.L.B from the University of Saskatchewan.

Prior to being appointed Assistant Professor, her professional life was a fusion of law, governance, community and institutional education. Her expertise and passion is around constitutional/Aboriginal law with a life study of customary laws. Ms. Poitras was a Native Court Worker and moved into the area of constitutional law after articling with the Saskatchewan Department of Justice. She has developed a number of legal education initiatives, including the precursor to the Akitsiraq Law School in Nunavut, where she has been a professor, and the Indigenous People's Resource Management Program at the University of Saskatchewan.

Ms. Poitras has worked in private practice and litigated in every level of court in Canada. She has significant experience in the development of self government with the Beaufort Delta Agreement, treaty implementation with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Treaty Table Justice Portfolio as well as the revisions to the Saskatchewan Métis Election Process. Ms. Poitras also works on CIDA funded research on ancestral domain and land conflict in Central Mindanao. Ms. Poitras is also the film producer of 7 Minutes, a film about an Indigenous woman from Saskatchewan who was stalked and chased. She is also the editor of numerous Elder's books for various First Nations in Saskatchewan who tell their own stories of life, residential school and traditional teachings.

Brian Eyolfson holds a B.Sc. in psychology, an L.L.B from Queen's University and an L.L.M, specializing in administrative law, from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Mr. Eyolfson was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1994 and has served as a Senior Staff Lawyer with Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto and as Counsel to the Ontario Human Rights Commission . He was Counsel to Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto at the Ipperwash Inquiry, and practiced human rights, Aboriginal and administrative law before a variety of tribunals and courts. He is a Vice Chair with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, where he adjudicated and mediated human rights applications, from 2007 to 2016. Mr. Eyolfson is currently acting as the Deputy Director in the Legal Services Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

Terms Of ReferenceWhereas the high number of deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls in Canada is an ongoing national tragedy that must be brought to an end;

Whereas the Government of Canada has committed to launching an inquiry to identify and examine the systemic causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada and to make recommendations for effective action;

And whereas the Government of Canada is committed to taking effective action to prevent and eliminate violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada;

Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, directs that a commission (“the Commission”) do issue, for the period beginning on September 1, 2016 and ending on December 31, 2018, under Part I of the Inquiries Act and under the Great Seal of Canada appointing five persons as commissioners (“the Commissioners”), namely, the Honourable Marion R. Buller as Chief Commissioner, Michèle Taïna Audette, E. Qajaq Robinson, Marilyn Poitras and Brian Eyolfson, to conduct an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada, which Commission must(a) direct the Commissioners to inquire into and to report on the following:

(i) systemic causes of all forms of violence — including sexual violence — against Indigenous women and girls in Canada, including underlying social, economic, cultural, institutional and historical causes contributing to the ongoing violence and particular vulnerabilities of Indigenous women and girls in Canada, and

(ii) institutional policies and practices implemented in response to violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls in Canada, including the identification and examination of practices that have been effective in reducing violence and increasing safety

(b) direct the Commissioners to make recommendations on the following:(i) concrete and effective action that can be taken to remove systemic causes of violence and to increase the safety of Indigenous women and girls in Canada, and

(ii) ways to honour and commemorate the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada;(c) direct the Commissioners to conduct the inquiry under the name of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (“the Inquiry”);(d) authorize the Commissioners to adopt any procedures that they consider expedient for the proper conduct of the Inquiry, to sit at the times and in the places, especially in Indigenous communities in Canada, that the Commissioners consider appropriate and to conduct the Inquiry, to the greatest extent possible, by means of informal processes such as the gathering of statements by qualified trauma-informed persons to record the experiences of families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls participating in the Inquiry; (e) direct the Commissioners to take into account, in conducting the Inquiry, that the Inquiry process is intended, to the extent possible,(i) to be trauma-informed and respect the persons, families and communities concerned,(ii) to provide an opportunity for persons, families and community members to express and share their experiences and views, particularly on ways to increase safety and prevent and eliminate violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada,(iii) to be culturally appropriate and to acknowledge, respect and honour the diverse cultural, linguistic and spiritual traditions of Indigenous peoples, and(iv) to promote and advance reconciliation and to contribute to public awareness about the causes of and solutions for ending violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls in Canada;

(f) authorize the Commissioners to provide any person having a substantial and direct interest in the subject matter of the Inquiry with an opportunity to participate in the Inquiry;(g) authorize the Commissioners to establish(i) regional advisory bodies – composed of families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls – to advise on regional matters that fall within the scope of the Inquiry, and(ii) issue-specific advisory bodies – composed of elders, youth, families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls, experts and academics, including academics specializing in Indigenous legal traditions, as well as representatives of national, Indigenous, local and feminist organizations – to advise on regional matters that fall within the scope of the Inquiry;(h) direct the Commissioners to conduct the Inquiry as they consider appropriate with respect to accepting as conclusive or giving due weight to the findings of fact set out in relevant reports, studies, research and examinations, whether national or international, including(i) the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015),(ii) The Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996),(iii) Invisible Women: A Call to Action – A Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada, Report of the Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women (2014),(iv) Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (2014),(v) What Their Stories Tell Us: Research findings from the Sisters In Spirit initiative, Native Women’s Association of Canada (2010),

(vi) Report of the inquiry concerning Canada of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 8 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (30 March 2015),(vii) Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in British Columbia, Canada, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (21 December 2014), and(viii) reports of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry (Oppal Commission, British Columbia);(i) direct the Commissioners to review the results of the Government of Canada’s pre-Inquiry engagement process;(j) authorize the Commissioners to rent, in accordance with the applicable Treasury Board policies, any space and facilities that are required for the purposes of the Inquiry;(k) authorize the Commissioners to recommend to the Clerk of the Privy Council that funding be provided, in accordance with approved guidelines respecting the rates of remuneration and reimbursement and the assessment of accounts, to any person described in paragraph (f), where in the Commissioners' view the person would not otherwise be able to participate in the Inquiry;(l) authorize the Commissioners to make available to members of the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and to survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls, for the duration of their appearance before the Commission, the trauma-informed and culturally appropriate counselling services that the Commissioners consider appropriate;(m) authorize the Commissioners to refer the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls who contact the Commission for information and assistance with respect to matters such as ongoing or past investigations, prosecutions or inquests to the appropriate provincial or territorial authority that is responsible for the provision of victim services;

(n) direct the Commissioners to use the electronic data systems and procedures specified by the Privy Council Office and to consult with records management officials within the Privy Council Office on the use of standards and systems that are specifically designed for the purpose of managing records;(o) authorize the Commissioners to engage the services of the experts and other persons who are referred to in section 11 of the Inquiries Act, at the rates of remuneration and reimbursement that the Treasury Board approves;(p) direct the Commissioners to perform their duties without expressing any conclusion or recommendation regarding the civil or criminal liability of any person or organization;(q) direct the Commissioners to perform their duties in such a way as to ensure that the conduct of the Inquiry does not jeopardize any ongoing criminal investigation or criminal proceeding;(r) if the Commissioners have reasonable grounds to believe that any information obtained in the course of the Inquiry may be used in the investigation or prosecution of an offence under the Criminal Code, authorize the Commissioners to remit that information to the appropriate authorities;(s) authorize the Commissioners to remit to the appropriate authorities any information that was obtained in the course of the Inquiry that the Commissioners have reasonable grounds to believe relates to misconduct;(t) direct the Commissioners to follow established security procedures, including the requirements of the Government of Canada’s security policies, directives, standards and guidelines, with respect to persons engaged under section 11 of the Inquiries Act and the handling of information at all stages of the Inquiry;(u) direct the Commissioners to not disclose publicly or in any report any personal information, as defined in section 3 of the Privacy Act, that has been received in evidence during any portion of the Inquiry conducted in camera, unless, in the opinion of the Commissioners, the public interest in the disclosure outweighs any invasion of privacy that could result from the disclosure;

(v) direct the Commissioners to make any disclosure referred to in paragraph (u) in such a way as to minimize, to the greatest extent possible, any invasion of privacy that could result from the disclosure;(w) direct the Commissioners, in respect of any portion of the Inquiry conducted in public, to ensure that members of the public can, simultaneously in both official languages, communicate with and obtain services from the Commission, including any transcripts of proceedings that have been made available to the public; (x) direct the Commissioners to submit, simultaneously in both official languages, the following reports to the Governor in Council:(i) an interim report, to be submitted before November 1, 2017, setting out the Commissioners’ preliminary findings and recommendations, and their views on and assessment of any previous examination, investigation and report that they consider relevant to the Inquiry, and(ii) a final report, to be submitted before November 1, 2018, setting out the Commissioners’ findings and recommendations; and(y) direct the Commissioners to file the records and papers of the Inquiry with the Clerk of the Privy Council as soon as feasible after the conclusion of the Inquiry.

August 3, 2016 (Ottawa, ON) –The Native Women’s Association of Canada’s (NWAC)’s 11-year campaign for a National Inquiry is a steadfast reality as a result of the Government of Canada’s announcement today on the launching of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“We welcome the leadership shown by the Federal government today. After 11 years of NWAC listening to the families of the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada, we are pleased that we now have a government who is prepared to listen and act. We want to acknowledge the great responsibility that the Commissioners have undertaken and commit to support them as they start this work. We recognize that five people cannot represent the diversity of our country and NWAC will work with the National Inquiry to ensure that all voices that need to be heard will be heard.”

Dawn Lavell-Harvard, President

NWAC had 10 key points that we were looking to ensure were part of the Inquiry.

Hear from the families in respectful and culturally appropriate ways.Provide families that want to pursue their cases through a justice system, some mechanism to do that.Provide families with supports throughout the process including before they present to the Inquiry, during the Inquiry and after they present to the Inquiry, based on a trauma informed approach.Validate the knowledge that we have acquired as we have engaged and talked with the families for the last 11 years. Specifically:The underlying issues that have resulted in the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women in this country is a direct result of historical and systemic issues;Recognize the systems that need to change, including the Child welfare system and justice systemConsolidate the research that has been done over the last eleven years including our research and the research done by Amnesty International.

Establish a research table and advisory tables to support the work.

Make informed recommendations based on the knowledge from the families and the research.

Directly engage NWAC in the Inquiry, as appropriate, and based on our role as National representatives of Indigenous women in Canada and as leaders in this issue for over eleven years.

Establish working relationships with the provinces to address the key issues.

Establish working relationships with the justice partners to address the key issues.In reviewing the Terms of Reference, there are four areas that we have some concern about.

The trauma informed and culturally based counseling appears to be limited to “the duration of their appearance before the Commission.” Trauma does not have a timeframe and we asked that families and survivors be provided with trauma informed and culturally based counselling services in their community as they get ready to present to the Inquiry, at the Inquiry and after presenting to the Inquiry.

We learnt a lot from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission including that the telling of the story of trauma can further trigger trauma. Let’s use those lessons that we learned.

There does not appear to be an opportunity for families to pursue or reopen cases through the justice system. In fact, for families who want to pursue cases or re-open ones that have been part of the justice system, the Terms of Reference direct that the support the Commissioners can offer is to redirect them to the appropriate provincial or territorial victim services. Families are not looking for mainstream counseling services through victim services but justice. This is a missed opportunity.There is no mention of the role of the provinces and territories and yet we know that some of the systemic issues will require provincial discussions, namely police services and the child welfare system. We cannot ignore what we know. Girls have described that they were sex trafficked from group homes and motels that are part of the child welfare system. We have a disproportionate number of Indigenous people who are in the criminal justice system. These issues are all interrelated and our expectation is that one reason we are having the Inquiry to address how these issues relate to violence against Indigenous women and girls.

There is no explicit mention of the need to work with the justice partners in order to make appropriate recommendations to ensure that there are changes in that system. We cannot ignore the fact that many family members or survivors of violence do not feel that they were treated respectfully or fairly by the justice system.

NWAC will be continuing our work to end violence against Indigenous women and girls.

NWAC will be monitoring the work of the Inquiry and will provide ongoing feedback.

NWAC will continue to track missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Sadly, since the RCMP released their updated report in December 2015 there have been 14 other women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered.

NWAC will be monitoring the progress of the CBC in its investigations of 34 cases across Canada that involve the death or disappearance of Indigenous women, and where families of the women say they do not accept the findings of police. These cases have something to teach us and we will be advocates for the changes that need to happen in the justice system and in our society.

We will also continue to work on the issues of sexual violence, domestic violence and human and sex trafficking that are part of violence against Indigenous women.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of First Nations and Métis women within First Nation, Métis and Canadian societies. As a national organization representing Aboriginal women since 1974, NWAC’s mandate is to achieve equality for all Aboriginal women in Canada.

Wednesday August 3, 2016 – Ottawa, Ontario – Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada expressed continued disappointment today at the lack of an Inuk Commissioner on the National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The Inquiry was launched this morning in Ottawa.

“This is 2016. Inuit did not have a commissioner on the Truth and Reconcilation Commission. We expected to have a voice to reflect us as one of the three constitutionally recognized Aboriginal Peoples in Canada on this National Commission of Inquiry,” said Pauktuutit President Rebecca Kudloo.

Pauktuutit has obtained wide support from Inuit across the Arctic, as well as groups on the issue of ensuring there is an Inuk as a commissioner.

“We recognize the historic importance of having all provinces and territories on board and that Inuktitut will be one of the working languages of the Inquiry,” said Meeka Otway, Pauktuutit’s Secretary Treasurer. Ms. Otway was in Ottawa for the official announcement and Pauktuutit’s press conference.

“Our hope is this Inquiry will visit the Arctic as Inuit define it. We call it Inuit Nunangat. It means our homeland. There are four distinct regions. From east to west they are Nunatsiavut in Labrador, Nunavik in northern Quebec, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the NWT. There are 53 Inuit communities in those four regions, and only 15 of them have women’s shelters, said Kudloo.

“On the issue women’s shelters we will be pushing to ensure that much more funding for shelters be made available to our Inuit communities.

Pauktuutit has been working on the issue of violence against Inuit women for over three decades. The organization will seek to ensure that this inquiry will support its repeated calls for more shelters, more access to appropriate victim services, and work to improve the current social and economic issues and priorities of Inuit women, families and communities.

“The road to social justice on any issue is a challenging one. Our job as the national voice of Inuit women is to continually express our priorities and concerns with the government. I am confident we have done that. We have been critical, and we remain critical on the day of the launch. In 2016 it is not acceptable that the Inuit women of Canada do not have an Inuk as a commissioner.” concluded President Kudloo.

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Wednesday August 3, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENAN ACKNOWLEDGES NEXT STAGE OF NATIONAL INQUIRY

“The loss of so many Indigenous women and girls is a national tragedy and theappointment of this independent commission is an important step towardsreconciliation. It is critical that the systemic effects of violence and discriminationagainst our women and girls be addressed, including police conduct and quality ofinvestigations. We welcome this scrutiny, and expect it will reveal how the chronicunderfunding of First Nations policing has hampered investigations into thedisappearances and murders of many of our members.

We are disappointed with the lack of opportunity for families to pursue or re-open old cases through the justice system, and the lack of specific direction to work with justice partners to improve the system.

Examination of the child welfare system will also be integral to this processand we look forward to the Commissioners’ recommendations regarding federal andprovincial jurisdiction. It is our expectation that this inquiry will be conducted inconsultation with victims, their families and our leaders in an open and transparentmanner. We acknowledge the grief of the families and recognize that this will be adifficult and painful process. We will continue to advocate for the appropriateresources and supports so our members can participate fully in this process.”

Deputy Grand Chief Achneepineskum, a NAN Elder and a family member attended the announcement as Ontario delegates. Achneepineskum is calling for the inquiry to visit NAN First Nations to gain insight into the challenges with respect to policing and access to health care, social services and other vital supports. Thirty-four of NAN’s 49 First Nations are isolated and remote and face geographic and logistical challenges unique to the North.- - -

August 3, 2016

(Ottawa, ON): After decades of hard fought activism by families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), grassroots activists and domestic and international advocacy groups, the Government of Canada today announced that it is initiating a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

“Today, we stand with the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls to ensure their voices are heard through all stages of this inquiry so that it leads to real action, change and some measure of justice for all those affected by this national tragedy,” said National Chief Bellegarde. “We expect the Commissioners to act on their mandate in the broadest way possible to fulfill their responsibilities to the families and to Indigenous women and girls. We continue to press for immediate actions aimed at safety, security and ending violence for First Nations people while the inquiry does its work.”

Since 2010, the AFN Chiefs-in-Assembly have passed seven specific resolutions calling for a national inquiry. The National Chief wrote the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada as recently as July 12 stating that an inquiry must, amongst other principles, reinforce Indigenous rights and human rights, be consistent with United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international instruments, and ensure accountability to First Nations and families of Indigenous women and girls affected by violence.

“Too many lives have been touched by this horrific national tragedy,” said AFN Women’s Council Chair, Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians Deputy Grand Chief Denise Stonefish. “It is important that the Government of Canada has finally responded to the call for a national inquiry. Today’s announcement is a direct result of years of advocacy and tireless grassroots activism by our incredibly resilient women. I lift up our sisters for this work, and I stand with them as we embark on what is sure to be a difficult road ahead and a necessary path on our journey.”

Many reports and studies, including those by the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights confirm that Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately at risk and point to the need for an approach consistent with international human rights standards. This includes state obligations for due diligence respecting the duty to prevent, investigate, remedy and provide reparations. The participation of the provinces and territories in the Inquiry is an important step in identifying and addressing the role of police and recommendations to correct and improve policing practices, policies and oversight. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was announced today at a gathering at the Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec.

AFN British Columbia Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson, who oversees the AFN portfolio for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, stated: “The tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls is a national crisis and an international shame. Our stolen sisters, their families and communities deserve better. My hope is that the national inquiry will be a turning point in achieving justice for our stolen sisters and acting on root causes. Together, we must work towards reconciliation and to a safer and more respectful country not only for all First Nations but for all Canadians.”

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver – The First Nations Summit welcomes the long-awaited launch of a nation-wide inquiry into the tragic and urgent matter of Indigenous women and girls going missing or being found murdered across the country. However, the Summit is concerned that the terms of reference for the five-member commission may repeat mistakes of past processes.

“Today’s launch of a national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls is long overdue and is a matter that should be of great concern to all Canadians,” stated Robert Phillips, a member of the First Nations Summit political executive. “A highly disproportionate number of women and girls from our communities have gone missing over many decades, or have been found murdered. Often these cases remain unsolved, leaving families without answers or closure. This injustice deeply hurts our communities and they deserve answers and healing.”

“The First Nations Summit has advocated for serious attention to be paid to this situation for many years,” said Grand Chief Edward John, also a member of the First Nations Summit political executive. “In the early to mid-1990s, information was provided to us about the rate of disappearance of Indigenous women and girls, particularly in the downtown eastside of Vancouver. We immediately wrote to then Attorney General, Ujjal Dosanjh, calling for a report on the status and nature of investigations into specific cases.”

John continued, “The First Nations Summit has remained highly concerned with this situation, and participated in the provincial Murdered and Missing Women Inquiry launched in 2010, lead by Hon. Wally Oppal. We made a statement to the Commission, calling for a comprehensive examination into the violence experienced by so many women and girls from our communities across the province and country. We identified the need to shed light into the dark corners of such violence and its root causes, and to address the systemic failures of the law enforcement and justice system toward our people.”

“Unfortunately, the scope of that inquiry did not address the full range of matters and limited participation by key groups. This lead to grave doubts about the thoroughness and effectiveness of the inquiry.”

“We welcome Minister Bennett’s commitment that the national inquiry launched by the Government of Canada will be an examination of the underlying and deep, systemic challenges of violence, including racism, sexism and the sustained impact of colonialism. We encourage the Commission to be courageous in its examination, leaving no stone unturned,” said Cheryl Casimer, also a member of the First Nations Summit political executive.

“Families deserve to know what happened to their loved ones, and it is absolutely imperative that systemic changes are made and measures taken to prevent and end violence against Indigenous women and girls.” She added,

“The First Nations Summit is deeply concerned that the terms of reference for the commission excludes critical elements, namely policing and compelling legal authority for provinces and territories to make this a truly national inquiry. We cannot miss this opportunity to get it right – to ensure that the scope of the commission’s mandate is inclusive of the entire system. We strongly encourage the Prime Minister and Ministers Bennett, Wilson-Raybould and Hajdu to take measures to ensure the inquiry is comprehensive and inclusive.”

Grand Chief John added, “the First Nations Summit’s involvement and advocacy around missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls has been to unequivocally support the need for justice for the victims and their families, and to ensure that changes are implemented system-wide not only to prevent violence from occurring, but to also ensure supports are in place to support the dignity, survival and well-being of all our communities.” He continued, “the Government of Canada’s unequivocal support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples must help guide this important examination and inform the outcomes. The First Nations Summit will be closely monitoring the inquiry as it proceeds.”

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The First Nations Summit speaks on behalf of First Nations involved in treaty negotiations in British Columbia. The Summit is also a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Further background information on the Summit may be found at http://www.fns.bc.ca.

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NEWS RELEASEFor Immediate Release BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson stands with families of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls in BC as Federal Government makes its announcement regarding the National Inquiry

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver – August 3, 2016) – BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson stood with the families of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in BC as the Federal Government made its announcement today regarding the National Inquiry. The Federal Government announced the terms of reference for the inquiry and identified the five commissioners that will lead this $40-50 million inquiry into 2018. The inquiry will look at the high number of deaths and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls in Canada and seeks to identify and examine the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada and to make recommendations for action.

“As I have stated previously, I am insisting that the government ensures that there is continued and meaningful engagement with family members and survivors the inquiry rolls out. It must be a process that is transparent and inclusive and one which investigates the core issues raised by the families. I am encouraged by the announcement by the federal government, and am hopeful that as the Inquiry unfolds we will witness full Provincial and Territorial involvement, and the ability to address incidences of racism and violence including policing and government institutions,” stated BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson.

The Terms of Reference provides an opportunity for regional advisory committees. “As the Regional Chief for the BC Assembly of First Nations, I am prepared to work with the families and the Inquiry to set up a BC Advisory Committee. " I want to make certain that the families have the opportunity to meaningfully and fully participate in the Inquiry,” stated BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson.

“At the end of the day, we need to stand united as peoples and organizations. We are committed to working with the commissioners and working to implement the recommendations. Ending violence against our women and girls and ensuring their safety and security is the goal,” concluded BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson. “The tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls is a national crisis and an international shame. Our stolen sisters, their families and First Nations deserve better. My hope is that the national inquiry will be a turning point in achieving justice for our stolen sisters and acting on root causes. Together, we must work towards reconciliation and to a safer, more respectful country for First Nations and all Canadians. I will continue to stand in unity with our women in BC and seek justice for our First Nations and our families.”

For further information, contact: Regional Chief Shane GottfriedsonBC Assembly of First Nations250-852-1143

RCMP Conduct must be included in the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls

Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver – Leaders of the First Nations Summit are calling on the Commissioners of the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) to commit to including RCMP conduct within the parameters of the Inquiry.

“Given the magnitude of internal sexual misconduct within the ranks of the RCMP, it is absolutely essential that that the conduct of the RCMP also be included in the lens of the National Inquiry into MMIWG”, stated Cheryl Casimer of the First Nations Summit Political Executive.

“The apology by senior RCMP officials as well as the compensation package to address the large number of victims that came forward to participate in two class action lawsuits clearly show the deep and serious nature of these shocking offenses within the RCMP. It is incumbent for the National Inquiry into MMIWG to examine whether or not this misconduct also filtered outside of the RCMP ranks or had any influence whatsoever on RCMP investigations into any cases involving missing and murdered indigenous women or girls”, added Ms. Casimer.

The First Nations Summit has a longstanding record of calling for investigations as well as the inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls and is of the belief that no stone should remain unturned when looking to address the systemic failures of the law enforcement and justice system toward Indigenous people in Canada.

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The First Nations Summit speaks on behalf of First Nations involved in treaty negotiations in British Columbia. The Summit is also a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Further background information on the Summit may be found at http://www.fns.bc.ca.

The Commission is asking family members, loved ones and survivors of violence wanting to share their experiences with, or testify before, the National Inquiry to please email the National Inquiry at Profile@mmiwg-ffada.ca with your name, contact information, and location. A member of the Commission’s team will follow up.If you have any questions regarding the National Inquiry process, you can contact the Commission by:· Phone: 1-844-348-4119 · Email: info@mmiwg-ffada.ca· Mail: PO Box 500, Station A, Vancouver, BC V6C 2N3.

There will be several ways to share evidence, testimony and stories with the Commission, including sessions with statement takers.

Signing up to Receive Updates from the Commission

For those who wish to receive regular updates from the Commission related to the National Inquiry, a sign-up form has been set up on the Commission's official website at: http://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/en/contact-us/ .

Anyone can sign-up to receive email updates regardless of whether they will be sharing their experiences with the Commission.

Applications for Standing

Please note that the Commission has posted on the Inquiry website a notice regarding applications for standing at the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The Notice sets out the types of standing that may be granted (regional, national or issue-specific), who may apply for standing, and the criteria that will be considered by the Commission when granting standing. The Notice confirms that the Commissioners will determine the extent to which a party granted standing might participate in the various Parts of the Inquiry.

Family members and survivors of violence do not require standing to share their experiences with the Commission.

The Commission website states:“For family members and survivors of violence: If you want to share your experiences with, or testify before, the National Inquiry, you do NOT require standing. You will be a “witness”. Therefore you do not need to fill out the Application for Standing. Furthermore, you will not be required to apply for funding under the standing process. Your reasonable expenses for attending a fact-gathering hearing (travel, accommodation, meals, child care) will be covered under a separate process. The funding form that follows is ONLY for those seeking standing, not for those who will be sharing their tragic experiences with the National Inquiry.”http://mmiwg-ffada.ca/http://mmiwg-ffada.ca/Our women and girls (including heterosexual, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, and those with disabilities or special needs) are sacred. We would like to recognize every single family member and loved one of the missing or murdered Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ2S people in Canada. We want to express our deepest sympathies for your loss and we are grateful for every story that you will choose to share with us in the search for truth.

Over the last several months we have been determining our strategy for how best to move forward in this National Inquiry. Our mission is to learn the truth by honouring the lives and legacies of Indigenous women, girls and members of the LGBTQ2S community. This encompasses three goals:

Finding the truthHonouring the truthGiving life to the truth as a path to healingAs we examine the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women, girls and members of the LGBTQ2S community in Canada, we are putting the families first. Our values are honesty, openness, inclusivity, compassion, courage, fairness and respect. We are seeking the truth about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ2S people while—most importantly—holding our women, girls and LGBTQ2S people sacred. It is our goal to provide those sharing their stories with a culturally safe space that they can access with support surrounding them. Our work is connected to the land and rooted in traditions that have kept Indigenous communities strong for thousands of years.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIW)held three days of family hearings in Whitehorse

June 2, 2017

The first family hearings held by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls wrapped in Whitehorse yesterday. Shaun LaDue testified about his mother, who was murdered, and he says that he felt respected and heard by the commissioners.(“..their hardest.”) (SOURCE:The Canadian Press)http://audio.cp.org/productionaudio/audio/2017/06/02/cp201706020095-1.mp3Other community hearings are expected in the fall and inquiry head Marion Buller says the commissioners will take what they’ve learned in Whitehorse as they move forward.Marion Buller became emotional as she delivered closing remarks yesterday.

The hearings in Whitehorse lasted three days and heard from dozens of family members of murdered or missing indigenous women or girls.

The first family hearings held by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls lasted three days and heard from dozens of families. Commissioner Marion Buller says the spirits of indigenous women who have disappeared or been killed joined the hearings.http://audio.cp.org/productionaudio/audio/2017/06/02/cp201706020098-1.mp3(“..it here.”) (SOURCE:The Canadian Press)

Buller says the commissioners will take what they’ve learned in Whitehorse as they move forward with other community hearings, which are not expected until the fall.

May 2017http://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/live-blog/mmiwg-inquiry(Francais Neumann wipes a tear away as she tells a story about her murdered sister-in-law Mary Johns at the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. (Photo:Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press))

An update from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry

June 19, 2017 - What's next for the National Inquiry?Statement from Commissioner in Chief, Marion Buller

I have spent the past few days contemplating what we all heard during the community hearings of the Truth Gathering Process in Whitehorse. Over three days, we’ve heard many stories of loss, we’ve heard anger, we’ve heard pain. We also heard courage and strength and hope. What has moved me most of all was the presence of the healing. I am grateful to every family member, survivor and loved one who shared their story, recommendations, suggested solutions and best practices with the Commissioners or with Statement Takers. I value each and every word.

I would also like to thank the traditional people of Ta’an Kwächän and the Kwanlin Dün, the municipality of Whitehorse, the staff at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, the Fire-keepers, Elders, local health supports, the Yukon Government and all the organizations that helped the National Inquiry take place.

For all of you, across Canada, who watched the community hearings, I thank you too. As I stated at the beginning of the community hearings in Whitehorse, this is a turning point in our national history, to give voice to all families, including families of the heart, of the missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and survivors. To heal and come together as Canadians to stop the violence against all.

Looking forward over the next couple of months there is much work to do. This week, the directors of the National Inquiry will be holding meetings with their teams to review the Whitehorse community hearing process to validate what worked and identify any gaps or areas needing improvement. Over the next few weeks, the National Inquiry staff will confirm work plans that will include the finalization of a community visit plan to get ready for community hearings in September.

As I mentioned in my statement dated June 1st, leading up to Community hearings in the fall, an interdisciplinary team will participate in community visits across Canada in order to lay the ground work for the Truth Gathering Process. We will also continue our other work to fulfill our terms of reference, including research, planning and organizing expert panels and analyzing digital and non-digital data submitted to the National Inquiry by federal, provincial, territorial, municipal governments, nongovernmental organizations and institutions. We will also be organizing the Expert Panel on Indigenous Law and Decolonization.

Finally, I would like to take this moment to congratulate all of the youth who are graduating this month. May your aspirations take flight. The National Inquiry’s mission is to make our land a safer place where the next generations can make their dreams a reality.Marion BullerYour Advice is Important to UsThe National Inquiry has met with families, survivors, advocates and organizations on regional and issue specific matters, and we carefully listened to the valuable advice. We are grateful for the comments we have received. The honesty and directness of the advice is greatly respected. The gravity of the mandate of the National Inquiry is at the forefront of our minds and hearts as we work to build the National Inquiry.We were told regional advisories were duplicating the pre-inquiry. As a result, we are moving from the advisory body format to a community visit approach.

We will not go ahead with regional advisory meetings in Edmonton, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Halifax, Saskatoon, and Northern British Columbia as originally planned. The community visit approach will focus on helping prepare families and survivors of violence to participate in the National Inquiry.

Community Visits: A New Approach

An interdisciplinary team will participate in these community visits across Canada in order to lay the ground work for the Truth Gathering Process. We believe that these visits will allow us to meet with more survivors and family members in their own home communities, and facilitate their understanding of and their involvement in the National Inquiry. These visits will also allow for careful planning and preparation for community hearings. It is important that we continue in a way that will not cause any further harm to families and survivors, and we firmly believe this approach will allow for the most trauma-informed process.

Truth Gathering Process :Where do we go from here?

We will assess the Truth Gathering Process in June and take stock of what we heard from families and survivors. This assessment will help us greatly understand our process. We seek to be flexible, able to adapt to the most effective process. We hear the need to move forward to the Truth Finding Gatherings across the Country in an expedient manner, and we seek to balance need with a cautious, respectful and well informed process.

There is much work for the National Inquiry to continue to do and over the next few months. Our growing staff will, for example:plan and prepare for community visits in other locationscontinue to build pro-active and respectful relationships with community organizations and regional coalitionsreview and analyze existing reports and datawork with institutions to receive and review evidentiary recordsmeet with families and survivorshold expert panels to assist the National Inquiry with a framework for a decolonizing approach that is respectful of and engages with Indigenous legal traditionsupdate communication platforms and processes to share information in the right way at the right time.

I first acknowledge the spirits of our Indigenous women, girls and members of the LGBTQ2S communities, and the courage of the survivors of violence. Ms. Belcourt, I am grateful for your continued support and willingness to work with us. I would like to respond to the concerns you raised in your open letter, dated May 14, 2017.

CommunicationsThe Commissioners and I agree with your criticism of our communications. The National Inquiry has not communicated its work in a clear and timely fashion. In order to correct that weakness, the National Inquiry hired a new Communications Director, Ms. Bernee Bolton, as of April 18, 2017.Ms. Bolton has worked in communications for over twenty years for non-profit, profit and Indigenous organizations, as well as for the federal government. She is Tlingit First Nations and moved to the west coast after growing up in the Yukon.

While getting oriented to the National Inquiry, Ms. Bolton has reviewed previous communications strategies and activities; analyzed resources; identified areas for improvement in processes and practices and introduced new practices. The intention of the communications team is to update the communications strategy so that the activities of the National Inquiry are clearly understood by the families, survivors and the public. We acknowledge that sharing results often and clearly is the way to increase transparency and build trust.

Ms. Bolton has also been working with the Communications team to develop “mini” communications plans for a number of initiatives including support of the teams carrying out preparations for the community hearings in Whitehorse at the end of this month. She is reviewing the National Inquiry website and social media platform with the goal of updating these outlets. Ms. Bolton is also researching the effective ways of reaching remote communities as well as innovative ways to reach out to the homeless and marginalized.I want to be clear that we have already taken steps to address the concerns that we share with you. I expect that you will start to notice positive changes to our communications. If not, please let me know.

Respecting the Spirits of our Relations and CeremoniesThe spirits of our women, girls and families guide our work. We are inspired by the courage of the survivors of violence. No day passes without a reminder that they are reasons why we are all working so hard.

The Commissioners and I are concerned about your comments regarding the inclusion of ceremony in our work. It is true that on occasion our meetings have required more time than originally planned, but as a result, we have been responsive and changed our agendas accordingly. From the start of the National Inquiry, our policy has been to respect the ceremonies and protocols of the people who host us. The feedback that we have received about ceremony has been positive. In the event that we have erred, I have asked our Executive Director to check with Directors and staff about our observance of protocols. Also, I would appreciate further details about the complaints you have received so that we can take appropriate action.We also know that in many communities ceremony plays an important role in defining and re-defining relationships. We are mindful of the need for ceremony in all aspects of our work.

ExtensionWe have been re-evaluating our timelines. Even though we have worked extremely hard, we recognize that the original timelines that were given to us by government are no longer achievable. We have already begun to assess our needs for additional time and budget. We agree that any such request has to be made in a timely way and we intend to do so.

The Commissioners and I know that we need to balance the need for additional time to do our work with the need to provide closure to families, survivors and the general public.

LeadershipI can understand the concerns you raise regarding leadership. Many of your concerns arise from our past weaknesses in communication.

I do not doubt your comment that many people see the National Inquiry as being too legalistic. That view may be due to the fact that we have not adequately communicated the work that we have already done with advisory groups, Elders and stakeholders. Nor have we properly communicated the work that our Research team has envisioned and commenced. So, I can understand that in the absence of the full and clear picture of all of the hard work we have been doing, we are seen as being too legalistic.

We are required by our Terms of Reference to review the work of the pre-Inquiry process. Even if we were not required to do so, we would review and use that valuable work. The concerns and suggestions that families and survivors voiced at the pre-Inquiry give us direction. Their voices are not lost.

I should point out that the National Inquiry does have a head office, located in Vancouver. The Commissioners and many of our staff are located across the country.

I appreciate your recommendation of a Managing Director or Chairperson. It is a topic for further discussion amongst the Commissioners, National Inquiry staff and you. I look forward to those discussions.

Trauma-informed processWe are committed to a trauma-informed process. I say that not just because we are required to do so in our Terms of Reference. It is the right way. I am confident that with clear and timely communication, our outreach will be more trauma-informed.

We have had health supports available at advisory meetings. I have asked our Executive Director to inquire of any complaints so that we can immediately remedy the situation.

Some National Inquiry staff and Commissioners have knowledge and experience in trauma-informed service delivery. In order to make sure there is consistency amongst all staff and Commissioners, Inquiry-wide training will begin next month.

Supports for families and loved onesIn answer to your first question, lawyers can be made available to families and survivors. However, we are taking a different approach to hearing from families and survivors than has been taken in other Inquiries. We want families and survivors to feel comfortable and safe enough to speak directly to us, without the need of having a lawyer present. We want the person to feel as though they are talking with us over tea at their kitchen table. In order to create this comfort and safety, we have changed from the usual courtroom-like process in the following ways: there will be no cross-examination of families and survivors; we do not wish to have a space that looks like a courtroom; if families and survivors do not wish to talk to a Commissioner in public, they may speak to a Commissioner in private; or, family or survivors may speak to a statement–taker, a trained individual who will meet with the participant in private. Any questioning will be done in a gentle way.

Even though we have made these changes, we know that we have to earn trust.

In answer to your second question, our Health team has developed a case management process that includes follow-up and the ability to include traditional healing supports.

Privy Council Office and IndependenceI think that there are several issues that require clarification in this regard. The National Inquiry is a creature of government. The money allocated to the National Inquiry essentially sits in an “envelope” designated for our use. Any expenditure we make must follow specific government rules and procedures. To the best of my knowledge, other Inquiries were in the same situation.

Privy Council Office acts as our banker and financial advisor. Prior to April 1, 2017, Privy Council Office staff approved the expenditures that we sent to them, so long as the expenditures were within the rules. At the same time,they assisted us in preparing all of the required government paperwork so that as of April 1, 2017, I am able to approve most contracts and other expenditures. There are dollar limits on what I can approve for certain types of expenditures. Nonetheless, we are still required to follow government rules and procedures. Currently, once I give my approval for an expenditure, Privy Council Office then arranges for payment. Therefore, in answer to your first question, prior to April 1, 2017, Privy Council Office approved our expenditures and arranged for payment. Since April 1, 2017, I can approve most expenditures and Privy Council arranges for payment. We are using our money wisely and are following the rules and procedures to be financially responsible.

With respect to your second question, whether we have been hampered by Privy Council Office in our ability to support families or our work, the answer is that the people at Privy Council Office have not hampered us. Rather, the time required to follow the rules and procedures has meant that people have had to wait for payment. For example, in the past, people have had to wait for cheques reimbursing them for travel. The staff at Privy Council Office have been responsive to our demands for prompt payment.

In response to your third question, since Privy Council Office acts as our banker and financial advisor, they do charge us a fee for their service. Their fee comes out of our budget.

Your fourth question raises the issue of independence. Briefly, independence with respect to any Inquiry has to do with decision-making. So, in the case of the National inquiry, independence has to do with being able to make findings of fact, decisions, and recommendations free from interference from anyone, all governments included. The financial relationship with Privy Council Office does not affect our independence about findings, decision-making and recommendations.

StandingWe plan to create a second opportunity for standing applications in the fall. I agree that there is much we can do to simplify the process. We will announce the second date well in advance and we will set out processes in plain language.

I am very glad that you raised the four questions about standing. First, how will the Inquiry include people who are street-involved? In addition torecommendations made in the pre-Inquiry, we have directly received advice that it is very important to protect the privacy and safety of people who are street-involved. Some examples of the recommendations that we have received include having statement-takers available in locations and at times where street-involved people will not be observed by others and allowing them to give statements in affidavits that are as anonymous as possible. We intend to implement these and other recommendations to the greatest extent possible. Additionally, we can accept statements by letter, video and other media. Again, we know that we have to earn trust.

With respect to your second question, we have received similar advice and recommendations about the concerns of people in the sex industries as from street-involved people. We intend to take the same approach.

Your third question about people with matters related to police violence raises the same concerns for privacy and safety. We intend to provide as many options as possible for those people to provide their statements.

Your fourth question is important as well. We do not take the approach that women and girls are defined by how they were classified at birth. People self-identify. We know that many members of the LGBTQ2S community want to speak to us. Their experiences are valuable to our understanding of systemic causes of violence. We have received advice from them about their safety and privacy concerns. We will make sure that members of the LGBTQ2S community are protected and empowered by our process.

We understand that our messaging to marginalized people must be clearer and emphasize safety. Of course, we are open to your advice in these areas.

It must be added that we have been told that privacy and safety for all is important. We have made both our priority.

ScheduleI can tell you that we will hold our first community hearing in Whitehorse commencing the week of May 29, 2017. As I write this letter to you, there are three National Inquiry teams working in the Yukon to ensure that all involved are properly prepared for our community hearing.

We have received advice from many people and organizations to start hearing from families and survivors in our community hearings. After we finish in Whitehorse, this is our work plan for the summer: we will finalize locations for future community hearings; National Inquiry staff members will visit each location and reach out to families, survivors, Elders and leaders, providing information about the National Inquiry; and, National Inquiry staff will make plans for the required meeting rooms, meals and accommodations. It is neither respectful nor practical and certainly not trauma-informed to just simply arrive in a community and expect to hear from people. We will work with dates that are acceptable to the community because we want to be respectful. I can assure you that we are anxious to finalize our schedules so that we can start hearing from families and survivors starting in September.

Also this summer, members of the National Inquiry Research and Legal teams are planning an expert panel hearing on Indigenous legal traditions and decolonizing approaches to our work. This expert panel hearing will provide us with a framework for our first report in November. We anticipate holding this hearing in August, in Winnipeg.

We will continue with community hearings with families and survivors in the fall and into the early winter. Our Research and Legal teams are planning further public hearings about topics that include, amongst others, human rights perspectives. Early in 2018, we will start hearing evidence from governments and agencies.

At this time, I cannot provide more specific information. As dates and places for community hearings and panels are confirmed they will be made public.

VisionWe acknowledge and truly appreciate the important work done by yourselves and many others that led to this National Inquiry. Your work provided a solid foundation for us.

I want to share with you more about our vision for this National Inquiry. The Commissioners, National Inquiry staff and I are deeply committed to making the National Inquiry a success. Our work requires courage, vision and diligence.

The Terms of Reference create the challenge of combining Indigenous cultures and protocols with the western legal system. The Commissioners, National Inquiry staff and I willingly accept this challenge. This type of nation-wide inquiry has never been done before. There is no precise blueprint or example to follow, however we have learned much from the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Nonetheless, we must proceed carefully and purposefully.

We intend to first find the truth about the systemic causes of violence, by hearing from families and survivors, panels dedicated to specific topics and hearings involving governments and agencies.

At the same time, we want to find out what communities have done to reduce violence against women, girls, and members of the LGBTQ2S communities, and learn why those initiatives are successful. Then, we want to share all of that information so that communities can develop their own answers because we believe that communities know their problems and they know the solutions.

We want to then honour the truth through our reports and recommendations. I expect that this will require taking firm and unpopular positions.

We want to give life to the truth by leaving legacy projects. Just as importantly, we want this National Inquiry to strengthen and support individuals and communities, to help healing and to reduce violence.In closing, on behalf of the Commissioners, thank you Ms. Belcourt and Signatories for the opportunity to address your concerns.Sincerely,Marion BullerChief Commissioner